The battle between science and religion (by which I mean Christianity) has always puzzled me. First, because I see no contradiction between the two and second because even if they were to battle it out then Christianity completely annihilates science. I hope that this post will go some way to explaining why I hold this view. The idea that Christianity runs contrary to science is historically speaking a bit weird. Up until a century ago it would have been strange for people to think there a gap between the two. We have Francis Bacon, who invented the scientific method, Kepler the father of modern astronomy, Boyle the father of modern chemistry, Maxwell the father of modern physics, Ray who was in his time the leading authority on biology, Faraday who discovered electromagnetism and Steno the father of modern geography who all saw no difference between science and Christianity. Now why do I give you such a list of esteemed names? Well, these men all had one thing in common: they believed in the God of the Bible, a rational and logical God who created a rational, ordered and structured universe that could be studying by applying the logical tool of science. Ironically enough, science advanced on the back of religion. Without a belief in the rationality of the universe born about by the rationality of God then these great scientists wouldn’t have bothered to study the natural world. As Kepler said: “We are thinking God’s thoughts after him” For these men, and for me, science brings glory to God. For the more we know of the natural world the more we appreciate the true and awesome power of our Creator God. The further back we push the boundaries of ignorance the more we can appreciate the full glory of our Creator. As Romans says:
“For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1 v 20 As a man, created in God’s image, I have a rational mind capable of studying the rational world we life in. Personally, I study the science of Economics (plug: Holiday series on Christian Economics coming soon!) but you’ll find Christians in all fields of science seeing no contradiction between science and Christianity. That’s all very well but surely science has disproved God? There are two points to make about that assertion. First is that science studies the natural world whereas God is part of the supernatural world. As such ‘science’ is rather constrained in regards to the existence of God. Secondly, science has never and will never prove or disprove God. Scientists will claim that science proves or disproves God. There is a great distinction between the two. Science is merely a logical tool of observation and deduction. Scientists are humans and as such cannot escape the realities of the spiritual dimension to the world we life in. There is no such thing as an ‘objective’ scientist. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.” Romans 1 v 21 – 22 “The sinful mind is hostile to God” Romans 8 v 7 Man in his natural state is hostile to God, in older language; he is at enmity to God. As such how can any unbelieving scientist offer an objective opinion? Science disproves God only because scientists want God to not exist. Atheists like to go on and on about the burden of proof. “Give us proof of God’s existence and we’ll believe” They like to say. But when proof is offered: the existence of a logical universe, the spiritual dimension to mankind, the complexity of the natural world, the revelation of God’s will in the Bible and the working of God in an uncountable number of Christian lives, it is rejected! Naturally it is rejected, the sinful mind is hostile God, there is no proof I can give that an Atheist would ever accept. No, that’s not true If any Atheists happen to be reading this let me ask you a question: do you want God to exist? Do you want a Creator to exist? A God that you would owe worship and obedience? A God that gives commands you have disobeyed? A God who demands that you love him with all your heart, mind and strength. That your life is dedicated to his glory? Answer no and you prove Romans 1 and 7 correct. The natural man is at enmity to God. But what about the Big Bang? The Big Bang is an interesting theory mainly for the fact that it explains nothing as to why the universe exists and also because it’s the worst piece of logical thinking I have ever come across. I’m sorry if that sounds offensive but as Maria says in the Sound of Music “Nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could” The idea that matter could just spring into existence by accident goes against one of the fundamental principles of science: out of nothing comes nothing. Furthermore, am I really expected to believe that Nothing + Time + Chance = a universe? Let alone a highly complex, ordered, structures and rational universe! The theories of the Big Bang work on the consistent laws of physics (as do all scientific theories) yet where did these laws come from? Science can tell us nothing. Yet more than that: ‘Science’ can offer us no explanation for its own existence. For if we are just ‘accidents’, brought about by chance, on what basis can we say that our minds our rational? If the universe is a product of chance why should it be a rational universe? If the Big Bang just happened to occur why don’t we live in fear that tomorrow everything might all be replaced by a large carrot? Logically, both are just as likely, the carrot more so as its spontaneous existence is far less complicated than that of the universe. As the Bible says the only rational conclusion when observing this rational universe we live in is the existence of a rational Creator. All other theories are damned by their own inherent illogical nature. Out of nothing comes nothing. Explain macroevolution then! Ah yes, the theory that man is nothing more than a few freak mutations away from the animal kingdom. A theory used as justification for the worst of crimes, a theory upon which the Nazi’s holocaust makes logical sense (survival of the fittest), a theory which suggests that there is no such thing as moral absolutes and that all morality is bunk. Carried to its logical conclusion macroevolution results in man being no more than an animal. And if a tiger killing a man isn’t morally wrong why is a man killing a man so wrong? If we are products of genetic chance on what basis can we maintain any sense of morality? If our brains are just accidental mush on what grounds can we say that they are rational minds? Can science explains the value humans place in things? Why humanity seeks to find a ‘deeper purpose’? Of course not! And this leads onto my second point. In a battle between Christianity and science Christianity wins hands down. For Christianity has answers science cannot even comprehend. Christianity places God at the centre of man’s existence and suddenly everything falls into place. Why do we see beauty in the world we live in? Why is there a generally accepted moral code man follows? Who am I? Is there life after death? Why do we wonder if there is anything else out there? Why do humans crave justice? Why is freedom so important? What is right and what is wrong? All these questions science cannot begin to answer. Yet all these questions can be answered through God’s word. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1 v 27 We can differentiate between good and evil because we are made in the image of God. We can appreciate beauty, experience love, long for justice and yearn for freedom because we are made in the image of God. We can write stories, compose music, imagine whole new worlds, create art, study the natural world, think logically all because we are made in the image of God. We know there is life after death because God says so in his Word. We know what is right and wrong because God gives us his moral code. We know that our purpose in life is to glorify God and enjoy him for ever again because that is what the Bible says. To say that man is no more than an animal to to reject a vast amount of evidence to the contrary which shows man to be far above and beyond animal life. Capable of rationality, aware of the spiritual realities of this world and having knowledge of good and evil. Final thoughts Any system of scientific thinking that does not include God as it’s starting logically axiom is doomed to failure. The only rational conclusion on the existence of this rational universe is that it is the product of a rational God. The moment scientists start denying the existence of God is the moment where they descend in cloud cuckoo land and their thinking will almost always reflect this. We see this in all branches of science, in the evils of Communism in the science of economics, in the folly of ‘climate change’ in the science of geography and in the illogical theory of macroevolution and the Big Bang in the field of natural science. Biblically speaking all these errors are a result of ‘futile thinking’. A result of denying what is eminently obvious: God exists. A transcendent, supreme, infinite and supernatural God created a rational, complex and ordered universe. "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Revelation 4 v 11
4 Comments
Ben Mildred
21/5/2010 12:30:56 pm
If you're interested to know more and not be ranted at then consider reading John Blanchard's wonderful book "Is God past his sell by date?"
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Mr Anderson
25/5/2010 03:37:31 pm
Interestingly I find myself here agreeing with you in principle. It's about time somebody told certain scientists that the study of science without a moral/philosophical foundation is useless and dangerous.
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Agent Smith
26/5/2010 09:02:47 am
Hi, thanks for your comment.
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Daniel
24/5/2011 03:53:16 am
Hi, have you contacted www.answersingenesis.org or www.creation.com? I think both of these sites are good sources for creation vs. evolution.
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